Running 20 miles for the blind

Bruno Dacquay, an executive with Alcon Laboratories in Irvine, completed a 20-mile charity benefit run Tuesday morning that took him through Newport's Back Bay. He was running to raise money for and awareness about a nonprofit that helps blind people.

The Frenchman, who is vice president of surgical instrumentation research and development at the Irvine campus of Alcon, an eye care company, undertook the course to benefit World Access for the Blind. Dacquay raised more than $19,000 for the nonprofit, which designs and provides training, tools, and educational materials to the blind to help them reach full independence, including training on how to mountain bike by themselves. That included a $5 donation from Leila Gbondo, 6, the daughter of an Alcon employee. Leila gave the money out of respect for her cheerleading coach, whose daughter is blind.

Dacquay ran the course largely solo but was accompanied along some stretches by other Alcon employees. He started his run at 7 a.m. and completed the course in 2 hours and 39 minutes, averaging 7.5 miles an hour.

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"I would like to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart, for your contributions and support," Dacquay said. "I know in these difficult economic times it's a challenge to think of others, and many of you likely had to make personal sacrifices in order to support this effort."